Early Fall Home Maintenance
1. Add Weather Stripping
Newer homes may not need this, but older homes often let air in & out which can hike up utility billd quite quickly. Remove and replace weather stripping around your doors and windows. Pay attention to where you feel drafts coming in through small gaps around the house.
2. Inspect Your Roof
This task is best left to a professional, but if you choose to do it yourself, please please be very careful! Check for damaged shingles, worn seals & gutters that have pulled away from the roof line. Get these issues resolved before we have cold weather that involves freezing and thawing, which can be hard on a roof.
3. Spruce Up Living Spaces
Cooling temperatures and more homework means your family will likely be spending more time inside. Be sure your most-used living spaces are cozy, clean and have plenty of seating for reading, watching movies, or studying.
4. Transition Outdoor Plants
Your patio furniture and grills can probably wait to be winterized until later in the fall because we will still have nice weather until November! For now, begin transitioning your potted plants to late-summer blooms or early fall flowers like mums and be sure to read up on how to care for your plants in the new season.
5. Do You Use Firewood?
If you have a fire pit, host bonfires, or use a wood-burning stove or fireplace, now is the time to order firewood. Don't store it directly against your home because it can become a hotel for bugs and other critters. Find a spot in your yard where it will be sheltered from rain and a safe distance from your house.
6. Check Your Foundation
Walk the perimeter of your home and examine your foundation. Are there any gaps or cracks? Like the roof, winter is hard on foundations because we can get into a pattern of freezing and thawing, plus those heavy rains and eventually snow. Let's take care of problems before they have a chance to get worse.
7. Complete Annual Fireplace Maintenance
Now is the perfect time to have your fireplace and chimney inspected if you have one. Again, this task is best left to a professional because he or she will know what to look for. It's always a good idea to be sure your fireplace is in working order before cool weather arrives.
8. Inspect Furnace
It could get chilly at times in September, so we want to know our heating systems are good to go. If you don't know what to look for, ask a friend or relative or call one of our local companies and just ask a few questions or have them check it out.
9. Continue Whole-House Cleaning
It's constant, isn't it? We know that everyone cleans as much as time allows all.the.time, but as we spend more time inside, we tend to notice tasks around the house that may have been overlooked during the summer. September is a fabulous time to declutter and work on organization because there's more to keep track of with activities and assignments. It's also a great month to host a yard sale because weather is favorable for people to get out and about.
10. Start Transitioning Home Decor
This task might be the most fun. You don't have to get out your scarecrows and pumpkins yet, but you can begin putting out your heavier throw blankets, change pillow shams to more autumnal colors and put some quilts on your beds. These are just a few cozy touches to enjoy in case we have a cooler day.
What else will you be working on at home over the next month or two? Share your tips with us! As always, we would love to hear from you!
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